Not All Gems Are Created Equal
Jeffrey Hess
August 3, 2026
9:45 pm
Two identical-size gemstones can be worth $100 or $100,000, and the gap comes down to color and country of origin.
A collection of columns appearing in the Tampa Bay Times by Jeff & Katrina Hess.
Two identical-size gemstones can be worth $100 or $100,000, and the gap comes down to color and country of origin.
Old Northeast Jewelers brings back its Downtown St. Pete Sunrise Sale on Thursday, July 16 at 6:43 a.m., clearing thousands
A signed Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond bangle with no French hallmarks forced a calculated call: Jeff Hess
Once dismissed as Rolex’s “poor stepchild,” Tudor is now one of the most-discussed names in vintage watch collecting, with scarce
A signed Tiffany & Co. ring with a 2.60-carat Old European Cut diamond and full provenance pushed Jeff Hess past
Seated Liberty half dollars can range from melt value to thousands of dollars depending on rarity, mint mark and condition.
An Art Nouveau Medusa pendant signed by Theodore B. Starr heads to auction, where collectors will determine its true value.
A Raymond Yard peacock brooch with rare gemstones and matching 1940s advertisement showcases the power of provenance in determining value.
Audemars Piguet’s “Disco Volante” shows how bold mid-century design and ultra-thin engineering turned functionality into enduring style.
Rolex became iconic not through style first, but through durability and real-world use, with function driving demand and culture following.
Two identical-size gemstones can be worth $100 or $100,000, and the gap comes down to color and country of origin.
Old Northeast Jewelers brings back its Downtown St. Pete Sunrise Sale on Thursday, July 16 at 6:43 a.m., clearing thousands
A signed Van Cleef & Arpels ruby and diamond bangle with no French hallmarks forced a calculated call: Jeff Hess
Once dismissed as Rolex’s “poor stepchild,” Tudor is now one of the most-discussed names in vintage watch collecting, with scarce
A signed Tiffany & Co. ring with a 2.60-carat Old European Cut diamond and full provenance pushed Jeff Hess past
Seated Liberty half dollars can range from melt value to thousands of dollars depending on rarity, mint mark and condition.
An Art Nouveau Medusa pendant signed by Theodore B. Starr heads to auction, where collectors will determine its true value.
A Raymond Yard peacock brooch with rare gemstones and matching 1940s advertisement showcases the power of provenance in determining value.
Audemars Piguet’s “Disco Volante” shows how bold mid-century design and ultra-thin engineering turned functionality into enduring style.
Rolex became iconic not through style first, but through durability and real-world use, with function driving demand and culture following.
